Expansion Advice

[Anonymous]

Hi all, I'm Scribble! I got a Lionel NYC Flyer for Christmas this year and was wondering what I should do next to add to my collection. This is my first O-Gauge train, and I haven't done model railroading since I was really little. Anyone have any suggestions of what I should get next to expand my layout?

[Anonymous]

Hello and welcome to the forum, are you looking for specific info on o scale equipment,train sets as a way to expand or just general advise on what to do next.their are many great modelers here that will no dought be able to guide you on your way. I would think that no matter what scale you would want to come up with a track plan that will serve the way you like to run your trains.Asking questions here is your first step,visit the lhs in your area and see what is available,start searching the web, looking for clubs with o scale layouts look for the things you might like to build into your layout..Take your time and don't do like many before you and ru***o get a layout running just to have to go back and fix alot of things that a little time and research would have prevented.I'm sure with the replies that follow you will find a ton of usefull information,good luck with your layout. Terry.

[Anonymous]

Well, for advice I meant, what should I get next? Rolling stock? Track? You see, I don't have any room for a permanent layout right now, at least not until I move out of my parent's house. So I'm basically restriced to a "Assmble, Run...Disassemble" type deal here. I was thinking of getting the Fasttrak siding for my my existing set, and one of those automatic decouplers. That way I could do atleast a minimal amount of yard work and switching operations. I'd really like to have a real layout built on benchwork and all, but like I said before, I don't have anywhere I could store it. Atleast without fear of it being damaged or destroyed. I just want something to make the oval a bit more intresting then just....well...and oval! PLaying chase the caboose isn't the best way to play with model trains, now is it?

[Anonymous]

You can have that oval built with one passing siding on one side with a depot, the other side of the oval can have two or three spurs any way you want it. The yard can be a "Shelf" to store your trains in the room when it is not in use. I had one as a child and it kept the train stuff off the floor very well for 10 years.

As far as equiptment, you can try to very carefully consider what you would like, I prefer to view your limits as a encouragement to get one or two things that will be very detailed and possibly contribute to your layout in the future. Quality instead of quanity.

If you have a LHS (Local hobby shop) or a club in your gauge, perhaps meeting with other folks in your area who may be willing to allow you to run trains. That will help you more than you realize.

I recall a neighbor who had a O (ok.. 0-27) set on a 5x9 that rests against a long wall when not in use. Perhaps there is such a wall in your home. And build it with future moves in mind perhaps?

Chase the caboose is the first way some of us get into the hobby, it is fun for a while then you move on to bigger and better things.

Good Luck!

[Eriediamond]

Welcome aboard Scribble. It seems to me you answered your own question with the addition of a siding and an uncoupler section of track. Best advice I can give is to set your train set up and visualise what you like to see, then go for it. It's hard, for me anyway, to recomend or to tell what someone should do next be cause we all have different visions of what we want out of our trains. Just use your imagination. Back in the 40's I recieved my first train set, A Lionel Scout set. I eventualy got a switch and track for a siding, then an operating coal dump car. and over a few years more and more cars and accessories.

[Fergmiester]

As indicated above you have several options:

You have an oval and from that you can have removable extensions so when you have to make room you just remove the extra piece and store it under the table or bed or what ever. You can also put your table on hinges to drop it down. To figure out where you expand to try "lofting". You can either try bristle board or cardboard, Cut it up into one foot squares and see where you can run your extensions and not interfere with other objects in the room. This is one of these dilemmas that most of us face in this hobby so you're not alone.


Welcome!

Fergie